City may replace recycling bins with carts to save money

Published: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 11:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 11:05 p.m.

The city of Hendersonville is considering changes to its recycling program that would save money in landfill tipping fees but cost thousands to roll out.

The savings depend on an increased participation in the recycling program. More recycling will lead to less waste and save the city money in future landfill fees, Ron Moore, owner of American Recycling of Western North Carolina, told the council at its meeting Thursday night.

He estimated the city could save $13,266 a year in disposal costs if they reduce solid waste dumps by 7 percent.

He said the city of Asheville switched from 18-gallon bins to 96-gallon carts in 2012.

“Their solid waste dropped over 7 percent their first year and the recycling rates their first year increased by 81 percent,” Moore added.

The city of Charlotte converted in 2010 “and in a two-year period, they were able to save disposal costs of $615,000,” he said.

The city currently has about 4,321 solid waste accounts and offers recycling with a weekly curbside collection of 18-gallon bins to 4,003 customers, Public Works Director Tom Wooten told the council Thursday night.

The city has looked at converting from 18-gallon bins to 65-gallon or 96-gallon rollout carts that would be rolled to the curb, much like trash cans, for regular weekly pickup.

Since some of the city's customers have multiple bins, he recommended they purchase 4,800 recycling carts at a total cost of $206,500.

Wooten proposed two options, one with a price tag of $211,500 and the other at about $357,000. Both costs account for the city being reimbursed $100,000 in grants for the project.

The first option uses a backup truck for the first year until a new truck can be purchased for $195,000, preferably next year, Wooten said. Option one also requires two additional employees at a total expense of $75,000; $16,000 in repair and maintenance on the city's old truck; and $14,000 in fuel costs. The total bill comes to $311,500, before factoring in any money from grants.

The second option includes the purchase of a new truck for the program at a cost of $195,000; the addition of one employee at $37,500; $6,000 to set aside for repair and maintenance on the new truck; and $12,000 in fuel costs. The total bill comes to $357,000, before grants.

“We're pretty sure we couldn't make the switch without adding equipment and people,” Wooten told the council. He said the city could opt for a bi-weekly collection, but that would lower its reimbursable amount from the grants.

City council voted unanimously to allow Wooten to apply for a grant through the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in order to switch from bins to carts. The grant could cover as much as $75,000 of the cost.

Moore told the council that he could reimburse up to $25,000 of the cost if the city agreed to continue using their facilities for the next three years. The remaining cost to the city for the new carts would be $106,500.

Wooten added there may be an additional cost to distribute the new carts.

He asked council members if they would like to proceed with the switch and if so, how they would like to pay for it. He said they could look at cutting some of the services provided to the city under its environmental services fund, or “we can look at increasing the rates.”

Mayor Pro-tem Jeff Collis said he can see how the city's recycling program has grown.

“Now almost everybody recycles,” he added.

Councilman Steve Caraker said his family uses two bins each week already.

Council members seemed willing to move ahead with switching to carts, and Mayor Barbara Volk asked for Wooten to return with specific costs for the project so they can decide how to fund it.

Caraker suggested they apply for a grant next year to help cover the cost of a more eco-friendly truck.

In other action, council:

--Heard from Main Street Director Lew Holloway about the advisory committee's recommendation to proceed with an intersection design without a unique element at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street.

An element could be added in the future, and the current construction project wouldn't be delayed, he said. “It would also allow the advisory committee to develop a broader understanding of the opportunities in the district via on-site study and through investigative research into successful models from other Main Street communities," he said.

--Agreed to allow Wooten to negotiate a contract with U.S. Infrastructure of Carolina Inc. in order to complete a pavement management study for the city.

-Heard from City Engineer Brent Detwiler about the approximate cost of $125,000 needed to complete recommended renovations to the 700 block of the city's phase three of Main Street improvements. He informed the council that patches will be needed on the road after new lines are laid. The patches would fall outside of the Main Street area to be resurfaced after the streetscape is improved.

Council asked engineers to look at saving money on certain parts of the project so that the road can be repaved to match the smooth surface of Main Street once the streetscape improvements are complete.

--Agreed to replace the thermoplastic crosswalks in the Allen Street to First Avenue block of Main Street with brick pavers to match the rest of the road (upon completion of the phase 3 streetscape project) at a cost of $8,819.37.

--Agreed to expedite the completion of the Wi-Fi upgrade project downtown for completion by May 1. The project will expand coverage throughout the Main Street district.

<p>The city of Hendersonville is considering changes to its recycling program that would save money in landfill tipping fees but cost thousands to roll out.</p><p>The savings depend on an increased participation in the recycling program. More recycling will lead to less waste and save the city money in future landfill fees, Ron Moore, owner of American Recycling of Western North Carolina, told the council at its meeting Thursday night.</p><p>He estimated the city could save $13,266 a year in disposal costs if they reduce solid waste dumps by 7 percent.</p><p>He said the city of Asheville switched from 18-gallon bins to 96-gallon carts in 2012. </p><p>“Their solid waste dropped over 7 percent their first year and the recycling rates their first year increased by 81 percent,” Moore added.</p><p>The city of Charlotte converted in 2010 “and in a two-year period, they were able to save disposal costs of $615,000,” he said.</p><p>The city currently has about 4,321 solid waste accounts and offers recycling with a weekly curbside collection of 18-gallon bins to 4,003 customers, Public Works Director Tom Wooten told the council Thursday night.</p><p>The city has looked at converting from 18-gallon bins to 65-gallon or 96-gallon rollout carts that would be rolled to the curb, much like trash cans, for regular weekly pickup.</p><p>Since some of the city's customers have multiple bins, he recommended they purchase 4,800 recycling carts at a total cost of $206,500.</p><p>Wooten proposed two options, one with a price tag of $211,500 and the other at about $357,000. Both costs account for the city being reimbursed $100,000 in grants for the project.</p><p>The first option uses a backup truck for the first year until a new truck can be purchased for $195,000, preferably next year, Wooten said. Option one also requires two additional employees at a total expense of $75,000; $16,000 in repair and maintenance on the city's old truck; and $14,000 in fuel costs. The total bill comes to $311,500, before factoring in any money from grants.</p><p>The second option includes the purchase of a new truck for the program at a cost of $195,000; the addition of one employee at $37,500; $6,000 to set aside for repair and maintenance on the new truck; and $12,000 in fuel costs. The total bill comes to $357,000, before grants.</p><p>“We're pretty sure we couldn't make the switch without adding equipment and people,” Wooten told the council. He said the city could opt for a bi-weekly collection, but that would lower its reimbursable amount from the grants.</p><p>City council voted unanimously to allow Wooten to apply for a grant through the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources in order to switch from bins to carts. The grant could cover as much as $75,000 of the cost.</p><p>Moore told the council that he could reimburse up to $25,000 of the cost if the city agreed to continue using their facilities for the next three years. The remaining cost to the city for the new carts would be $106,500.</p><p>Wooten added there may be an additional cost to distribute the new carts.</p><p>He asked council members if they would like to proceed with the switch and if so, how they would like to pay for it. He said they could look at cutting some of the services provided to the city under its environmental services fund, or “we can look at increasing the rates.”</p><p>Mayor Pro-tem Jeff Collis said he can see how the city's recycling program has grown.</p><p>“Now almost everybody recycles,” he added.</p><p>Councilman Steve Caraker said his family uses two bins each week already.</p><p>Council members seemed willing to move ahead with switching to carts, and Mayor Barbara Volk asked for Wooten to return with specific costs for the project so they can decide how to fund it.</p><p>Caraker suggested they apply for a grant next year to help cover the cost of a more eco-friendly truck.</p><p>In other action, council:</p><p>--Heard from Main Street Director Lew Holloway about the advisory committee's recommendation to proceed with an intersection design without a unique element at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Main Street.</p><p>An element could be added in the future, and the current construction project wouldn't be delayed, he said. “It would also allow the advisory committee to develop a broader understanding of the opportunities in the district via on-site study and through investigative research into successful models from other Main Street communities," he said.</p><p>--Agreed to allow Wooten to negotiate a contract with U.S. Infrastructure of Carolina Inc. in order to complete a pavement management study for the city.</p><p>-Heard from City Engineer Brent Detwiler about the approximate cost of $125,000 needed to complete recommended renovations to the 700 block of the city's phase three of Main Street improvements. He informed the council that patches will be needed on the road after new lines are laid. The patches would fall outside of the Main Street area to be resurfaced after the streetscape is improved.</p><p>Council asked engineers to look at saving money on certain parts of the project so that the road can be repaved to match the smooth surface of Main Street once the streetscape improvements are complete.</p><p>--Agreed to replace the thermoplastic crosswalks in the Allen Street to First Avenue block of Main Street with brick pavers to match the rest of the road (upon completion of the phase 3 streetscape project) at a cost of $8,819.37.</p><p>--Agreed to expedite the completion of the Wi-Fi upgrade project downtown for completion by May 1. The project will expand coverage throughout the Main Street district.</p><p>Reach Weaver at Emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7867.</p>